Pakistan Hosts Iran FM Abbas Araghchi, Tehran Rules Out Direct US Talks

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday welcomed Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad, expressing hope for talks focused on regional peace and stability.

Shortly after Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, Tehran ruled out any direct negotiations with American government representatives during the visit.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that "No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US." He added that Pakistani officials would instead convey messages between the delegations.

Baqaei also thanked the Pakistani government for its "ongoing mediation & good offices for ending the American imposed war of aggression."

Dar said he received Araghchi along with Army Chief Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and looked forward to meaningful discussions during the visit.

What is the purpose of Araghchi’s meetings with Pakistan’s top leadership?

In a post on X, Dar wrote, "Pleased to receive and welcome my brother, Foreign Minister of Iran, H. E. Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi, to Islamabad, alongside Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi."

"Look forward to our meaningful engagements aimed at promoting regional peace and stability," the post read.

The White House had earlier said on Friday that its envoys would meet Araghchi.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Iranian Foreign Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with the country’s top leadership to discuss the evolving regional situation and ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability.

The official statement read, "An Iranian delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran H.E. Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad today.”

“The Iranian Foreign Minister was received by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir along with other senior officials upon arrival,” the statement added.

"During the visit, the Iranian Foreign Minister will hold meetings with Pakistan's senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments as well as ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability," the statement read.

The first round of US-Iran talks held on April 11 to 12 ended without a breakthrough, triggering intensified diplomatic efforts by host Pakistan to ease tensions and revive prospects for another round of negotiations.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, giving Tehran additional time to present a unified proposal to end the conflict, just hours before the truce was due to expire.

(With inputs from ANI)